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Lazier, Foyt And Roth Bump Their Way In Indy 500 Field

Speedway, IN, May 18th, 2008 – Bump day with bumping. After several years of 34 cars trying to get into the 33-car field, we had six legitimate cars pushing, clawing and thrashing their way into the field for the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing”. The field was filled for the 92nd Running of the Indianapolis 500 on Saturday. So on Sunday, bumping started at noon with A.J. Foyt IV clicking off four consistent laps in windy conditions (variable at 15-20 MPH) booting Marty Roth from the field. Despite the wind, Foyt’s four lap average was 219.184 MPH. Foyt has had a frustrating weekend, “Yes it was a very frustrating 24 hours. That is the way it works around here. Just glad to get out there and put four laps in. We can get more out of it if we have to. We have to work on a race setup but be ready to qualify if we have to.” After Foyt’s run there was a break in the line, so the track was open for practice for qualified and non-qualified cars.

About 90 minutes later, recently bumped driver, Roth goes out and bumps former winner, Buddy Lazier from the field. Roth’s four-lap average was 218.985 MPH. “My guys did a great job putting the car out. They’ve been working hard. They haven’t slept in two days. Today we wheeled out a car that’s pretty solid. The change we made make sense.”After Roth’s run, the track was open for practice with Max Papis’ Rubicon Racing taking it’s first laps since their third turn shunt at the close of opening practice yesterday morning before qualifying.

A.J. Foyt IV continues his frustrating month when the fuel buckeye cover flies off in turn two, when he got to turn three, intense flame shot out from the area beneath the roll bar where the fuel port is all the way back past the rear wing. Foyt does a quarter spin making hard contact with the SAFER Barrier with the left rear. The car slides to a rest in the north short chute as Foyt climbs out singed but uninjured. “I’m fine, just have a little burn on my neck, that’s all. It wasn’t until I turned into the corner did I know stuff was going bad. It was just a mistake; we left something off the car that was supposed to be on it, and it broke loose going into the corner and that’s what caused the flames. To feel completely out of control is the worst feeling in the world to me, and that’s what happened.”

The Foyt car will be repaired in time for the race next Sunday as Vision Racing team, manager Kevin Kukulewicz confirmed, “We won’t have any problem getting the primary car repaired for Race Day. Everything is repairable. I have every bit of confidence in Anthony. This was a failure on a crew member’s part. Anthony is a professional guy, and he processes this stuff well. He’s got a bit of a burn on the back of his neck, but he’s a good ‘ol boy and he’s ready to go back at this.”

With temperatures a cool 64, and winds at 21 MPH, Buddy Lazier who was bumped, returns to the track for a qualifying simulation, He does several laps in the 218 flat to 216.4 MPH and returns to the garage for some major adjustments.

4:23 p.m., Mario Dominguez goes out for a qualifying run however comes up short . Thus with an hour to go, Roger Yasukawa in the Beck Motorsports entry remains on the bubble. Dominguez’s four-lap average of 217.775 MPH coming up .018 of a second short. Several drivers have complained of the strong winds, thus making a late banzai run to get into the field that much harder.

With 40 minutes to go in qualifying, the tension level is raised as Yasakawa goes over 219 MPH as Dominguez and the Pacific Coast Team continues to look for speed. Buddy Lazier’s Hemelgarn crew returns from the garage area to tech line.

With 30 minutes to go Lazier goes out for his first attempt of the day, with laps in the low 217’s, on lap four the Hemelgarn-Johnson crew waves off the veteran of 15 “500’s.”

Tension levels continue to rise as Dominguez takes his shot at Yasukawa’s time. He does a first lap at 218.910, second lap at 218.546 quick enough to bump Yasukawa. Dominguez’s third lap is 218.530, final lap at 218.494, four-lap average of 218.620 MPH bumping the Beck Motorsports entry driven by Yasukawa.

Next up, Yasukawa. Yasukawa who was running low 219’s in practice immediately goes out. Thus, Dominguez the most recent qualifier is back on the bubble. Yasukawa’s first lap is quick enough, 218.894 MPH. The next lap is slower at 218.645 just barely quicker than Dominguez. Things get interesting on the third lap which is 218.322 just over Dominguez’s time. Fourth lap, 218.375, too slow, four-lap average 218.559, just a hair over Dominguez’s time. Yasukawa is on the outside looking in at this point.

Max Papis and the Rubicon Team take their crack at Dominguez. Things don’t start well as Papis stalls while pulling out for his run. Apparently the Rubicon entry has encountered clutch trouble and the crew removes the car from the qualifying line. Roth who is still in field removes himself from tech line. There are fifteen minutes to go.

Buddy Lazier who had a chat with Dan Wheldon before going out, throws down a quick 219.227 MPH lap quick enough to bump Dominguez. The remaining dedicated crowd cheers as Lazier follows up with laps at, 219.371, 219.019 and 218.44 for a 219.015 MPH average bumping Dominguez from the field.

Yasukawa tries for a third and final time to squeeze back into the field however comes up short. Yasukawa needed a 218.965, ended up short at 218.476 MPH over four laps, about three-tenths of a second short over 10 miles. “We had a good car actually, at the end. It looked like the wind shifted. I thought we were going to be able to do 219.2’s no problem. The wind direction changed, and the best we could do is was in the 218 average. It’s very disappointing.”

Last qualifier will be Mario Dominguez. As the crew prays on pit lane, Dominguez is quick enough on his first lap, 219.780 MPH. As he goes through turn one on his second lap, the rear end breaks loose, making moderate contact with the wall. The car spins through the south short chute, with the car lifting up a bit as it continued to turn two. The crew is devastated. Meanwhile a large press contingent gathers around Buddy Lazier as others congratulate, car owners Ron Hemelgarn, Roger Johnson and Lazier’s wife, Kara. The gun has fired, this qualifying is over for the 92nd running of the Indianapolis 500. Thus, A.J. Foyt IV, Buddy Lazier and Marty Roth are in, Mario Dominguez, Roger Yasukawa and Max Papis are out. Roth Racing’s Larry Curry was quite emotional after the final gun went off, “Well you know this place is so special Lets just say I have been through a lot this month. I’m happy Marty got into the race, and I hope Dominguez is OK. It’s unfortunate he got into an accident; he had plenty quick enough lap to get in.”

Tyler Tadevic, owner of Pacific Coast Motorsports (Dominguez), “It’s disappointing, you know. It’s out first event in the IndyCar Series, and we just went ahead and picked the Indy 500 as our first event. You know it’s the biggest show on Earth and we didn’t get to make it. We’ll be in Milwaukee Mario is still our guy.”

Lazier qualifies for his 16th Indy 500, making him the most experienced driver in the field. Lazier also wins the $50,000 Firestone Final Qualifier Award.

Notes: Tony Kaanan briefly shook down Andretti-Green Racing teammate and rookie Hideki Mutoh’s Formula Dream car. Former Team Penske, Patrick Racing and Target Chip Ganassi Team Manager Jim McGee was seen around the garage seen speaking with Target Chip Ganassi manager Mike Hull. Jaques Lazier is reported to drive the American Dream Racing entry at Texas in three weeks. Current driver Phil Giebler who was injured yesterday will return as driver when he is ready. Speaking of Giebler, he was released from Methodist Hospital, diagnosed with bruised lungs and a cervical sprain. He was not cleared to drive today.

1985 Indianapolis 500 winner Danny Sullivan was at the Speedway Saturday for a dinner honoring Penske Racing. Sullivan was happy being back, “It’s always good to be here. I came back last night. The Old Timer’s Club honored Penske Racing. I went to the dinner downtown last night, and I just came in to see some people and say hello. It’s been a while since I’ve been here. It’s just kind of good to be back and hang out.” (On the unification of open-wheel racing): “I think it’s great that they’re back together, but I don’t think it will be an overnight fix. It will take time, and hopefully the sponsors will come back in. Obviously, the racing’s competitive, but it’s just going to take time. They’ve been apart for 12 years. I think the way the field looks and the group of drivers and the teams and the competitiveness of it, I think you’re going to have a good race Memorial Day weekend. When they do that, it will draw a lot of people to it, as well.”

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